Basketball system shake reduction system

ABSTRACT

A device to assist a basketball assembly in returning to a static state (i.e., a device to reduce vibrations) after the basketball assembly has been impacted by a basketball or a player. The device includes a weight (i.e., a mass) atop a rubber/urethane rod. The device is configured to allow the weight to oscillate in the plane of the force of the impact. Simultaneously, the rubber/urethane rod absorbs the vibrational energy of the impact. The combination of the weight and the rod assist the basketball assembly to return to a static position more quickly.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present invention deal with accessories for basketball assemblies (i.e., basketball goals and basketball posts). More particularly, the present invention deals with devices to reduce vibrations and/or shaking of the basketball assembly.

BACKGROUND

In the popular sport of basketball, normal play includes impacts against the basketball goal assembly, primarily the backboard assembly. Impacts can occur from the basketball striking the backboard or rim assembly or from player contact, such as hanging on the rim assembly. Correspondingly, the impact can cause a vibration in the basketball goal structure. Such vibrations can interfere with later shots at the basket and can contribute to wear and tear on the goal assembly. Accordingly, it is desirable for the basketball goal assembly to return to a static, non-vibrating state as soon as possible after an impact. For example, NCAA rules require official competition backboards to return to a static state within four seconds of an impact.

The time necessary for a basketball goal system to naturally return or dampen to a static state is a function, among other variables, of its mass and rigidity. Typically, the approach to reducing vibrations has been to use a heavier mass and more rigid mountings and materials. However, such an approach adds weight and cost to a basketball goal assembly.

The concerns in pole mounted basketball goal assemblies are of especial concern because in pole-based arrangements the basketball backboard assembly functions as a weight mounted at the end of a cantilevered lever arm extending from a base, creating a leveraging effect against the base. Traditional pole mounted systems have correspondingly had to balance a longer natural damping time before the system returns to a static state versus using heavy materials and a secure or heavy base to minimize the goal's natural damping time.

Arrangements to accelerate damping and to minimize the damping time for basketball goal assemblies are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain disclosed embodiments include a basketball assembly including a basketball rim assembly attached to a backboard. The backboard is attached to a basketball goal post. A damper reduces the intensity and duration of vibrations transferred to the basketball assembly during use. Vibrations are transferred to the basketball assembly via impacts of either the basketball or a player during play. The damper is configured to reduce the time it takes the basketball goal to return to a static state so the shaking of the basketball assembly does not interfere with ongoing play.

In some embodiments, the damper is mounted to the goal post of the basketball assembly. For example, this can be accomplished by mounting the damper on a top surface of the goal post or by securing the damper to a top portion of the goal post. In other embodiments, for example using a hollow goal post, the damper can be mounted inside the upper end of the goal post.

An example embodiment of the damper includes a weight (e.g., a mass) coupled to an end of an elastic, flexible rod (i.e., rubber or urethane). When a basketball or player impacts the basketball goal assembly, vibrational energy is transferred to the assembly. The energy is then transferred from the assembly to the damper. Further, the impact and the flex of the elastic rod cause the weight to oscillate counter to the goal system. Importantly, the weight may move radially in any direction (i.e., 360°). Thus, the weight can oscillate in a plane aligned with the force of the impact from the basketball and/or player, which more efficiently dissipates the vibrational energy transferred to the basketball goal assembly.

Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a representative basketball goal assembly and a damper.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a damper of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the weight-rod assembly of a damper.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a basketball goal assembly and a damper illustrating one exemplar plane of impact and the radial plane in which the damper flexes.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the weight-rod assembly of a damper.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a damper with the top cover removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a damper with the top and bottom cover removed.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a base of the damper mounted in the top portion of a basketball goal post.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a basketball goal assembly with the top plate of the goal post removed.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a damper according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a damper securely mounted to the top portion of a basketball goal assembly.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of attaching a damper to a basketball assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

With respect to the specification and claims, it should be noted that the singular forms “a”, “an”. “the”, and the like include plural referents unless expressly discussed otherwise. As an illustration, references to “a device” or “the device” include one or more of such devices and equivalents thereof. It also should be noted that directional terms, such as “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear” and the like, are used herein solely for the convenience of the reader in order to aid in the reader's understanding of the illustrated embodiments, and it is not the intent that the use of these directional terms in any manner limit the described, illustrated, and/or claimed features to a specific direction and/or orientation.

In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a dampening apparatus operatively attached or for attachment to a basketball goal assembly.

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to a representative basketball goal assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 . Specifically, various aspects of the disclosed embodiments will be discussed with reference to a basketball goal assembly 100 having a support such as a pole or post 102 with a top end 104 and a bottom end 106. A backboard assembly having a backboard 110 and a rim assembly 112 attached thereto is coupled to the top end 104 of the pole or post 102. Typically, the backboard 110 and rim assembly 112 are attached near the top end 104 of the post 102 via a set of support arms. The height of the backboard 110 and rim assembly 112 may be adjustable relative to the pole 102. The post 102 is often perpendicular to the support surface supporting the basketball goal assembly 100. The backboard 110, support arms, and goal post 102 are known as an adjustable parallelogram. Some basketball goal assemblies have the post 102 entering a hole in the ground or being bolted to a base in or on the ground. Other basketball goal assemblies have the post 102 being supported by a weighted base, such as a sand or water filled container. Sometimes the bases are portable and may have wheels attached thereto. Example backboard sizes may be 54″, 60″ or 72″ and they may be adjustable in height to place the hoop as desired, for example within a range between 7.5′ and 10′ above the playing surface.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also include basketball goal assemblies with slanted, segmented and/or curvilinear posts and basketball goal assemblies that are not mounted on a post. For example, some basketball goal assemblies are mounted on a wall and/or are suspended from a ceiling. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, different arrangements of basketball goal assemblies are contemplated by the inventor(s) of the present disclosure and the embodiments illustrated and described in the present disclosure may be modified for the various arrangements of basketball goal assemblies.

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative basketball goal assembly 100 with an example embodiment of a damper 10. The damper 10 is mounted adjacent the upper end 104 of pole 102. The damper, described in more detail below, hastens dissipation of vibrational energy as the basketball assembly 100 returns to a static state after an external force is applied to the assembly. This dissipation of energy can help minimize wear and tear, damage, and/or structural failure. In the present context, the damper 10 is attached to the basketball assembly 100 to dissipate energy transferred to the system from an external force. External forces in this context, considered to be transient inputs, include basketball impacts against the backboard 110 (including the front, top, bottom, rear, and side surfaces), rim 112, or post 102 or forces from a player grabbing and/or hanging on and then releasing the rim or otherwise impacting the basketball goal assembly 100. Fundamentally, a basketball goal assembly 100 includes the mass of the backboard assembly mounted at the upper end of a vertical cantilever beam. Accordingly, the external forces cause the basketball goal assembly 100 to vibrate/shake for a period of time after an impact until the assembly 100 returns to a normal, static state. The damper 10 can substantially accelerate the damping and efficiently reduce the time it takes for the basketball goal assembly to return to a normal static state.

The damper 10 includes a flexible, vertical rod 30 and a weighted mass 35 (discussed in more detail below) that are configured to oscillate in counterpoint to the vibrations of the basketball assembly 100 after an external impact. When an impact occurs, due to inertia, the basketball assembly begins moving before the weight, slightly flexing the rod. As the force is transferred from the assembly 100 to the damper 10, the rod urges the mass in the same direction, while the assembly then rebounds and oscillates. In effect, the rebound of the assembly 100 is opposite the rebound movement of the mass. By oscillating in counterpoint (i.e., out-of-phase) with the movement of the assembly 100, the rod 30 and mass 35 dampen the vibration/shaking felt by the assembly 100. Specifically, when an external force impacts assembly 100, the inertia of the weight 35 causes a slight temporal delay in the weight's 35 movement relative to the movement of the assembly 100. This temporal delay causes the weight 35 to move in counterpoint to the movement of the assembly 100. Simultaneously, the elasticity of the rod 30 provides a restoring force that attempts to return the rod 30 and weight 35 to equilibrium. However, the inertia of the weight 35 also causes the damper 10 to overshoot equilibrium, and thus oscillate. Therefore, the rod 30 and weight 35 oscillate in counterpoint to the movement of assembly 100.

The flexible rod 30 can flex forward, rearward, laterally, or at any angle, which allows the mass 35 to move in any radial direction in a 360° range relative to its central axis to counteract external forces applied from any direction. The flexible rod 30 is configured to allow the mass 35 to oscillate in the plane of the impact.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a damper 10. In this embodiment, the damper 10 includes a top cover 15 and a bottom cover 20. While top cover 15 and bottom cover 20 are optional, the covers enclose the damper 10 and the end of goal post 102, which protects them from the elements such as the weather, dust, exposure to UV, and the like. Top cover 15 and bottom cover 20 are coupled via fasteners (e.g., screws and/or clips) and are configured to house the flexible rod 30 and the weight 35 of damper 10 and provide sufficient interior space such that movement of rod 30 and weight 35 are not inhibited and/or restricted by the top cover 15 or bottom cover 20. Further, damper 10 includes base 25. Base 25 is configured to secure rod 30 and weight 35 to the top end 104 of goal post 102. When base 25 is installed in the top end 104 of a hollow goal post 102, damper 10 may protrude from the end of goal post 102, which allows attachment of bottom cover 20 and top cover 15 to base 25 (see FIGS. 6-7 ). Damper 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , may be sold in conjunction with a basketball goal assembly 100, sold as an accessory, or sold separately to be retrofitted onto the top end of a goal post of an existing basketball assembly.

FIG. 3 is a view of a damper 10 without top cover 15 or bottom cover 20 for ease of illustration. As depicted, the lower end of the flexible rod 30 is coupled to the base 25 while the upper end is coupled to the weight 35. Base 25 is securely coupled to the top end 104 of goal post 102. Thus, this configuration is configured to couple the damper 10 to the basketball assembly 100. The weight 35 can be any suitable material heavy enough to effectively dampen the force transferred to the basketball assembly 100. The flexible rod 30 is preferably made of rubber or urethane. However, the rod 30 may be made of any elastic and/or flexible material suitable to allow weight 35 to oscillate in counterpoint to the movement of basketball assembly 100 after an impact. Importantly, as shown in FIG. 3 , flexible rod 30 is configured to allow weight 35 to move in any radial direction (i.e., 360°), as indicated by arrows A, shown in a plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the flexible rod 30. This allows damper 10 to effectively shorten shaking/vibration of basketball assembly 100 regardless of the direction of the impact. If an impact strikes any part of the backboard 110, rim 112, or goal post 102, the weight 35 is configured to move in any direction opposite the incoming force.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the basketball goal assembly 100 and the damper 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 . As illustrated, damper 10 includes the bottom cover 15 and the top cover 20 and is fully assembled on the top end 104 of the post 102. The arrows A, depicted in FIG. 3 , are reproduced, as the flexible rod 30 and weight 35 are configured to flex in any radial direction (i.e., 360°). FIG. 4 further includes an x-y plane, a representative x-z plane, and an impact force F₁ aligned with the x-z plane. The x-y plane, as shown, is perpendicular relative to the central axis of the flexible rod 30. The x-z plane is perpendicular to the x-y plane. The impact force F₁ illustrated is one example of an impact force that could be imparted on basketball goal assembly 100. Impact forces may be imparted on the assembly 100 from various directions, and the respective x-z plane is then defined by the direction of impact and the vertical central axis of the flexible rod.

As shown in this example, the horizontal component of impact force F₁ impacts the assembly 100 perpendicularly relative to the vertical axis of the flexible rod 30. The horizontal component of the impact force and the vertical axis of the flexible rod define an x-z plane aligned with the direction of impact. As the impact force reverberates through assembly 100, the upper end of the flexible rod 30 and the weight 35 then oscillate in counterpoint to the vibration/movement of assembly 100. Specifically, upon an impact the flexible rod 30 and the weight 35 begin to oscillate in alignment with the specific x-z plane defined by the direction of impact. To clarify, to account for various directions of impact, the flexible rod 30 and weight 35 are able to radially flex in any direction within the x-y plane consistent with arrows A, yet with respect to a specific impact the flexible rod 30 and weight 35 will flex and oscillate within the specific x-z plane defined by that specific impact force F₁. The oscillation of the upper end of the flexible rod 30 and the weight 35 dissipates the vibrational energy felt by the overall assembly 100. Thus, damper 10 reduces the amount of time it takes for assembly 100 to return to a static state.

FIG. 5 depicts how base 25, rod 30, and weight 35 are configured to be coupled together in one specific embodiment. Flexible rod 30 fits into a molded cavity on the top portion of base 25. Flexible rod 30 and base 25 are coupled together by any suitable means. For example, adhesive (e.g., Loctite) may be applied to the rod 30 and cavity of base 25 before inserting rod 30 into base 25. Alternatively, the bottom of rod 30 may include a threaded bore configured to receive a bolt or other fastener. In the threaded bore configuration, a bolt/fastener can be inserted through the bottom portion of base 25 and threaded into the threaded bore of rod 30. Similarly, the weight 35 and rod 30 are configured to securely attach together. In a third embodiment, the flexible rod 30 comprises a friction fit with weight 35 to secure rod 30 and weight 35 together. In yet another embodiment, the rod 30 and weight 35 include threaded bores aligned in a horizontal plane, such that insertion of a screw or bolt secures rod 30 to weight 35. It should be appreciated that weight 35 and rod 30 may be attached in number of suitable ways. For example, the weight 35 includes a bore configured to receive the top portion of rod 30. Adhesives may be applied to the bore of weight 35 and the top portion of rod 30 to securely connect the two together. Alternatively, the top end of rod 30 may have a threaded bore configured to receive a bolt/fastener. Additionally, the top end of weight 35 may also include a bore such that a bolt/fastener can be inserted into the top end of weight 35 to securely attach weight 35 to rod 30. It should be appreciated that either of these attachment methods, a combination of these methods, or other alternative methods may be used to attach base 25 to rod 30 and rod 30 to weight 35. The rod 30, the molded cavity in base 25 and the bore of weight 35 may be cylindrical or any other suitable shape.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of damper 10 mounted on assembly 100 with top cover 15 removed. The housing provided by top cover 15 and bottom cover 20 of damper 10 is configured with sufficient interior space to allow adequate oscillation movement of rod 30/weight 35 so damper 10 can effectively reduce the shaking experienced by assembly 100 after an impact. Similarly, FIG. 7 illustrates damper 10 with both top cover 15 and bottom cover 20 removed. FIG. 8 depicts base 25 inserted and attached to the top end 104 of goal post 102. Base 25 includes a cavity 40 configured to receive flexible rod 30. Base 25 may be securely attached to goal post 102 via any suitable means. For example, base 25 may be attached by interior fasteners or fasteners extending through a side wall of goal post 102. As depicted in FIG. 8, base 25 may include a J-bolt 45 configured to attach base 25 to the top end 104 of goal post 102 (discussed in more detail below).

FIG. 9 depicts the top end 104 of goal post 102 before attachment of damper 10. As shown, some basketball assemblies 100 may include a crossarm bolt 60 used to secure the cantilevered arms of the basketball assembly 100 together. In some embodiments, damper 10 is securely mounted to the top end 104 of goal post 102 by placing base 25 and a J-bolt 45 around the crossarm bolt 60.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a damper 10 according to the present disclosure. In this embodiment, bottom cover 20 is attached to base 25 and/or the top end 104 of post 102 via screws. Similarly, top cover 15 is attached to bottom cover 20 via screws. However, any suitable fastener may be used. FIG. 10 also depicts two aspects of a method for securing base 25 to goal post 102. First, J-bolt 45 is placed through a bore in base 25 and secured to a nut. Then, J-bolt 45 is positioned and tightened such that crossarm bolt 60 is placed and then held between J-bolt 45 and base 25. This ensures that damper 10 does not move vertically within goal post 102 (discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 11 ). Second, wedges 55 are secured to base 25 via nuts and bolts. Wedges 55 have an angled/slanted lower side which engages a complementary angled/slanted surface on base 25. The wedges 55 are made of suitable material such that when the bolts are tightened, wedges 55 slide downward and outward relative to base 25, which expands the effective width of base 25. This clamps base 25 between the inner surfaces of goal post 102 and secures base 25 thereto. Other suitable attachment means, such as fasteners, may be employed, either separately or in combination with the methods depicted in FIG. 10 .

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10 installed on a cutaway of post 102. When top cover 15 and bottom cover 20 are properly in place, there is sufficient room for flexible rod 30 and weight 35 to move in any direction. In FIG. 11 , wedges 55 are secured in place and effectively expand the width of base 25, causing base 25 to be secured between the inner surfaces of goal post 102. As shown, base 25 may include a flange 50 configured to properly position J-bolt 45. During installation of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10-11 , the lower lateral leg of J-bolt 45 is positioned parallel to the crossarm bolt 60 to be inserted past bolt 60. Once the base 25 is inserted into the top of goal post 102, the J-bolt 45 is rotated so that the lower lateral leg is perpendicular to crossarm bolt 60 and then tightened. In this way, crossarm bolt 60 is now positioned and held between the perpendicular J-bolt 45 and base 25, thus ensuring base 25 does not move vertically relative to post 102. Flange 50 acts as a back-stop to ensure that when J-bolt 45 is rotated, the lower lateral leg is perpendicular to crossarm bolt 60. Without flange 50, J-bolt 45 could be rotated too much such that the lower lateral leg of J-bolt 45 may not be oriented perpendicular with crossarm bolt 60.

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of a damper 10 according to the present disclosure. Similar to the previous embodiment, this embodiment includes an elastic, flexible rod 30 and a weight 35. The rod 30 and weight 35 can be attached together by the methods described above. The flexible rod 30 can flex forward, rearward, laterally, or at any angle, which allows the mass 35 to move in any radial direction in a 360° range relative to its central axis to counteract external forces applied from any direction. The flexible rod 30 is configured to allow the mass 35 to oscillate in the plane of the impact.

The damper 10 includes a base plate 70 that is securely attached to the top end 104 of the goal post 102. The goal post 102 can have a solid or hollow top end 104. The damper 10 includes a clamp 65. Clamp 65 includes one or more sidewalls that define a cavity configured to match the shape of rod 30. For example, clamp 65 may have a semi-circular shape to correspond to the shape of rod 30. Clamp 65 may be any shape suitable to surround and hold the rod 30, which may also take any shape. In some embodiments, clamp 65 may include a floor plate (not shown) configured to support and hold the distal end (relative to weight 35) of rod 30. Alternatively, a floor plate may extend outward from base plate 70, perpendicularly to rod 30. Clamp 65 includes fasteners 75 to attach clamp 65 to base plate 70 with rod 30 placed therebetween. When fasteners 75 are engaged, rod 30 is supported and held along the vertical axis of goal post 102. Fasteners 75, as illustrated, may include bolts configured to attach clamp 65 to base plate 70. However, other attachment mechanisms are envisioned. For example, fasteners 75 may include bolts, nuts, screws, nails, clamps, clasps, adhesives, or any other suitable attachment means that are known to those of skill in the art. Further, alternative embodiments of top cover 15 and bottom cover 20 are envisioned with the embodiment of damper 10 illustrated in FIG. 12 .

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure include methods for mounting a damper 10 on a basketball goal assembly. Broadly, the steps include providing a basketball backboard and rim assembly and optionally also providing a support pole to which the basketball backboard and rim assembly can be mounted. The steps further broadly include mounting a base 25 and/or base plate 70 near the top end 104 of the goal post 102 of basketball assembly 100. The lower end of the flexible rod 30 is attached to the base 25 or the base plate 70. The weight 35 is attached to the upper end of the flexible rod 30. Optionally, at least the weight 35 and the flexible rod 30 are covered with sufficient interior space such that movement of weight 35 and rod 30 is not inhibited by a top cover 15 and a bottom cover 20. One particular method is described with reference to FIGS. 10-11 , above.

FIG. 12 represents an alternative method of attaching damper 10, including rod 30 and weight 35, to basketball assembly 100. In this embodiment, the damper 10 includes a flexible rod 30, a weight 35, a clamp 65, a base plate 70, and optionally a cover. The attachment method is as follows: the base plate 70 is attached to an outer side of the top end 104 of the post 102, for example, via fasteners; the upper end of the flexible rod 30 is securely attached to the weight 35; the clamp 65 is securely fastened to the base plate 70 with the lower end of the flexible rod 30 position and secured therebetween; optionally, a cover is attached to the damper 10 to house and protect at least the flexible rod 30 and the weight 35. The cover provides sufficient interior space to allow for full movement of the flexible rod 30 and the weight 35. This method of attaching damper 10 to goal post 102 also allows for effective dissipation of vibrational energy experienced by assembly 100 after an external impact.

It will be apparent to one of skill in the art that other, alternative methods of attaching damper 10 to basketball assembly 102 may be employed. For example, the top portion of basketball goal post 102 may be removed to allow damper 10 to be secured within a hollow end of goal post 102. Additionally, the methods recited herein are not intended to refer to any particular order of operations, but are rather discussed without reference to sequence.

It should further be appreciated that damper 10 can be used in conjunction with basketball goal posts 102 of various shapes and sizes.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein. 

1. A damper for a basketball goal assembly, comprising: a base selectively attachable to a top end of a goal post of a basketball goal assembly; a flexible rod extending vertically from the base, wherein an upper end of the flexible rod is configured to flex radially at any angle within 360 degrees in an x-y plane perpendicular to a central vertical axis of the flexible rod; and a weighted mass coupled to the upper end of the flexible rod; wherein upon an impact force being applied to the basketball assembly, the weighted mass and the upper end of the flexible rod oscillate in counterpoint to the basketball goal assembly in an x-z plane defined by the direction of impact and the central vertical axis of the flexible rod to dampen vibration of the basketball goal assembly.
 2. The damper of claim 1, wherein the goal post has a hollow top end and the base is installed in the top end of the goal post.
 3. The damper of claim 1, wherein the flexible rod is made of rubber and/or urethane.
 4. The damper of claim 1, wherein the damper includes a cover secured to the post of the basketball goal assembly and configured to surround and protect at least the flexible rod and the weighted mass of the damper without inhibiting the radial movement of the flexible rod and the weighted mass.
 5. The damper of claim 4, wherein the cover comprises a top cover and a bottom cover; wherein the top cover is operatively coupled to the bottom cover; and wherein the bottom cover is operatively coupled to the top end of the post of the basketball goal assembly and/or the base of the damper.
 6. The damper of claim 1, wherein the base is selectively attachable to the top end of the goal post by a j-bolt configured to clamp to a crossarm bolt of the basketball goal assembly by rotating about its central axis such that a lateral arm of the j-bolt is positioned perpendicular relative to the crossarm bolt.
 7. The damper of claim 6, wherein the base includes a flange that acts as a backstop to ensure that the lateral arm of the j-bolt is rotated to a perpendicular position relative to the crossarm bolt.
 8. The damper of claim 6, wherein the base is further selectively attachable to the top end of the basketball goal assembly by one or more wedges configured to slide outward as they are tightened to the base, effectively increasing the width of the base to clamp it within the top end of the goal post.
 9. The damper of claim 1, wherein the flexible rod is attached to the base via adhesives and/or fasteners.
 10. The damper of claim 9, wherein the base includes a cavity configured to support and receive a lower end of the flexible rod.
 11. The damper of claim 1, wherein the weighted mass is attached to the flexible rod via adhesives and/or fasteners.
 12. The damper of claim 11, wherein the weighed mass includes a bore configured to receive the upper end of the flexible rod.
 13. A damper for a basketball goal assembly, comprising: a base plate attachable to an outer surface of a top end of a goal post of a basketball goal assembly; a flexible rod extending from the base plate parallel to the vertical axis of the basketball goal assembly wherein the flexible rod defines a central vertical axis; a weighted mass coupled to the flexible rod; wherein an upper end of the flexible rod and the weighted mass are configured to flex radially at any angle within 360 degrees in an x-y plane perpendicular relative to the central vertical axis of the flexible rod; a clamp configured to receive and hold the flexible rod, wherein the clamp is securely attachable to the base plate such that the flexible rod is secured between the clamp and the base plate; wherein upon an impact force being applied to the basketball assembly, the weighted mass and the upper end of the flexible rod oscillate in counterpoint to the basketball goal assembly in an x-z plane defined by the direction of impact and the central vertical axis of the flexible rod to dampen vibration of the basketball goal assembly.
 14. The damper of claim 13, wherein the flexible rod is made of rubber and/or urethane.
 15. The damper of claim 13, wherein the damper includes a cover configured to surround and protect at least the flexible rod and the weighted mass of the damper without inhibiting the radial movement of the flexible rod and the weighted mass.
 16. A kit for use in damping the movement of a basketball goal assembly after an impact on the basketball goal assembly, the kit comprising: a flexible rod selectively attachable to a top end of a goal post of a basketball goal assembly, wherein the flexible rod defines a central vertical axis; and a weighted mass securable to an upper end of the flexible rod; wherein when assembled an upper end of the flexible rod and the weighted mass are configured to flex radially at any angle within 360 degrees in an x-y plane perpendicular to the central vertical axis of the flexible rod; wherein upon an impact force being applied to the basketball goal assembly, the weighted mass and the upper end of the flexible rod oscillate in counterpoint to the basketball goal assembly in an x-z plane defined by the direction of impact and the central vertical axis of the flexible rod to dampen vibration of the basketball goal assembly.
 17. The kit of claim 16 comprising a base installable in a hollow top end of the goal post, and wherein a lower end of the flexible rod is attachable to the base to secure the flexible rod to the goal post.
 18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the base comprises a j-bolt configured to vertically secure the base to a crossarm bolt of the basketball goal assembly and one or more wedges configured to slide outward as they are tightened to the base to horizontally secure the base within the top end of the goal post.
 19. The kit of claim 16 comprising a clamp assembly installable adjacent a top end of the goal post and configured to secure a lower end of the flexible rod to the goal post.
 20. The kit of claim 16, wherein the kit comprising a cover connectable to the base and/or the top end of the goal post configured to surround and protect at least the flexible rod and the weighted mass of the damper without inhibiting the movement of the flexible rod and the weighted mass. 